Background: The emergence and spread of resistant microbes continue to be a major public health concern. Effective treatment alternatives, particularly from traditionally used medicinal plants, are needed. Objective: The main objective of this study was to conduct phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity evaluation of selected traditionally used medicinal plants in Ethiopia. Methods: The ethnomedicinal use value frequency index (FI) was used to select twelve medicinal plants. Phytochemical classes of compounds were screened using different standard methods. Anti-microbial activities of plant extracts were evaluated against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured using the broth micro-dilution method. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 and the findings were presented descriptively and using non parametric one-way ANOVA analysis (Kruskal–Wallis/Ddunn’s test). Results: The phytochemical constituents identified were flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, and terpenoids, with flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenols being the most abundant. The crude extracts and chloroform fractions of the extracts showed an activity against the tested strains. The crude extract of Thalictrum rhynchocarpum Quart.-Dill. and A.Rich root demonstrated superior activity against all the tested strains with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.48 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli; 0.98 μg/mL against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and 3.90 μg/mL against Candida albicans, which are even better than the reference drug, gentamicin and clotrimazole. Conclusion: The majority of evaluated medicinal plants demonstrated remarkable activity against tested microbial strains, which can be attributed to the presence of secondary metabolites of different classes of compounds. The finding provided scientific evidence for the use of these traditionally used medicinal plants.

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Framework in Ethiopia: A Critical Evaluation of Its Legal Basis and Implementation

Knowledge of traditional uses of medicinal plants in Ethiopia passed on from generation to generation orally. This method of information conveyance has resulted in distortion or loss of indigenous knowledge. Locally available and used medicinal plants should be identified to alleviate risk of extinction due to urbanization, drought, and deforestation. An ethno-pharmacological survey was conducted to document medicinal plants commonly used to treat human diseases and indigenous knowledge of traditional healers for further use and scientific investigations during February to March 2006 applying a systematic random sampling method. Structured questionnaires were used to record pertinent information of the respondents, their knowledge on medicinal plants. The result obtained was analyzed, compiled, and documented. Some 71 medical plants were collected and identified for the treatment of different kinds of diseases as single species prescription; 17 of them were used as polyherbal prescriptions. Leaves were the most commonly used (34.5%) plant parts; 28.2% consisted of more than one part of the plant used as a source of medicine; and 28% needed additives either for test preference or as a portion of medicine. Most of the plant remedies were prepared as decoction/infusion. Water was the major medium for the decoctions/infusions. Most of the medicines were taken orally and majority of the medicinal plants were shrubs (43.7%). The study provided information and identified varieties and usage of medicinal plants in the study area.